Compare towns

Glocester vs Webster vs Smithfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureGlocesterWebsterSmithfield
People
Population
10,221Lowest
17,748
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Glocester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28k
19% above U.S.
$361,500±$12kLowest
9% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Glocester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248Highest
68% above U.S.
$3,999Lowest
28% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 38 in RI #271 of 282 in MA #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Webster Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Bartlett High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.6Lowest
11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.